The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Compassionate People What the World Needs

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

30 July 2003

Look around and what do you see?

Bitterness, envy, anger, discontentment, and just a lot of frustration where ever you go.

The waiter isn't giving us enough attention.

The coach isn't paying attention to our kids.

The parent isn't taking time for the children.

The wife doesn't have dinner on the table.

The husband isn't paying attention to the wife.

The store is out of the things you want and things just aren't turning out as we had planned them.

Then there are just the case of the "grumps" that seem to frustrate us.

What the world needs is compassionate people, more laughter, more understanding.

I have to mention that I found compassion on this weekend's Relay For Life.

The most frustrating thing must be to hear a doctor tell you, "You've got cancer!" - yet it is many of these cancer survivors who are carrying hope, and finding a deep compassion for life and for others. In their weakness they have a strength of character that makes them shine and bring a comfort that just makes one feel good inside.

Although we as Americans are known to live in a land of plenty, there seems to be unrest, and a constant turmoil going on inside many of us.

Many times it is a lack of caring about our fellow man.

I think it all stems from busyness. You can almost picture it. A person walking along the street, their head down toward the ground, hands in their pockets, not even noticing life around them. They are full of the work of their day.

Things such as the Relay for Life make you stop and take note of how precious life is and how wonderful people are. It also makes you aware of how much we do need each other, no matter how independent we try to become.

We need the pharmaceutical companies to find a cure for cancer. We need the doctors to care for our distress. We need the gas station owners, the grocery store owners, the plumber, the carpenter, the repair shop, the clothing store, the banks, the phone companies and all the many places we frequent, but complain about.

And they need us, too, for their livelihood.

I heard on the radio that anger is the reaction that comes when someone is hurt. Maybe that is all it is. People needing some compassion, a listening ear.

I hope the next time we are attacked or feel misunderstood by another, we stop and take time to really see what their situation might be.

I am hoping that we can all show more compassion - to others like Sandy Lefler in Henderson County's Relay for Life. The smallest act, she was grateful for. And for those who were hurting, she had an arm around the shoulder, a hug, a listening ear, and I am sure she added a prayer.

Thanks Sandy for teaching us about compassion.